It is not often a place opens up that has a concept that completely takes me by surprise and pulls at my gastronomic heart strings.
If you were to tell me there was a restaurant that serves high quality pastries, breakfast, savory cheesecakes and gourmet hotdogs, I would think you are clearly drunk and mixing three different restaurants into one.
But lo and behold, there is Happy Fatz, a love child of five-star food served out of a homey bungalow in the Heights.
The waitstaff was extremely helpful and friendly — helping me with my selection and actively engaging me in conversation, which made me feel right at home. The cashier recommended the St. Louis, a quarter-pound beef frank on a Challa bun with baked beans, bacon, grilled onions and a basil garlic mayonnaise.
I could smell the bacon and beans before the plate even got to the table, sending flashes of childhood memories of weekend barbecues through my mind.
Challa is a Jewish bread made with eggs that gives it a beautiful golden brown color and is similar to the flavor of bagels when the starches break down and turns to sugar as it is chewed.
From start to finish, it was nothing short of amazing, a constant clash of sweet and savory — bacon on bean, the frank on Challa and onions on mayonnaise.
The dogs at Happy Fatz require a fork and knife — you literally have to arm yourself. This is not a typical dog; it is a Pitbull.
When I saw the sign hanging above with the words “Savory Cheesecakes,” I had to investigate.
I asked the owner to describe them for me. A rich, cream cheesecake that has all the sweet ingredients substituted for savory combinations like olive pesto or smoked salmon and served with fresh fruit and crackers. For people who are big on cheese, this is something you have to try.
I ordered the olive pesto cheesecake. The herbs tasted so fresh and were accented by the pine nuts perfectly. The most impressive thing about the cake is how light it was — I could have easily eaten the entire thing if I didn’t have to bring some home for my wife.
Happy Fatz is truly a hidden gem in the Heights, and is a place I will definitely be coming back to again, and again. It is food that is well worth the money and then some. I give Happy Fatz a five out of five.
